Japanese Niche Games Deals & Discussion Thread 4.0

shivan128

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Welcome to the Japanese niche games deals and discussion thread!  Feel free to talk about local and import Japanese games here.  Our goal is to maintain a thread dedicated to active deals on niche games including RPGs, Visual Novels (VN), Shoot'em ups (Shmups), Musou, etc.  Also maintained are pre-orders for standard, limited and collector's edition games with key release dates provided.

I've wikified the thread to make it more friendly and open to others that can actively update with important information. You can find the wiki post directly below this one.

NOTE:  Please, leave the censorship discussion away from this thread.  It's common for japanese games to have questionable content outside of the country.  We want to keep discussions to the game itself and not about cultural/societal tolerance.

A message from Thorbahn:

Our CAG Japanese Niche Games Thread also has a community on PS4, where you can interact and game with other members of the thread.

Our moderators are: Draekon, Las_Hole, and Waffleswanton

You can basically friend any of our members, or any moderator, and you will be able to request to join the community under "Communities friends are in" tab, and a mod will approve your request.

You can also leave your PSN ID in the thread, saying you want to join, and we can invite you directly as well.

As always, have fun and enjoy your stay!

 
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If you click "new this week" on the side it'll show up, but yeah searching for it wasn't working for me either.

EDIT: I mean using the web browser store, not sure about store on the console itself.

 
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Yep, now shipping out "the week of release" for the PS4 CE.
Balls.

Unrelated, but anyone recently get an order from play Asia? I got my copy of Xenocrisis and Moero Crystal H and they included something along with the usual sticker and postcard.

Having a hard time figuring what it is and can't upload a pic of it at the moment, but it's plastic and has an image of their mascot and the PA logo on opposite ends, and looks like you're supposed to fold it into something.
 
Unrelated, but anyone recently get an order from play Asia? I got my copy of Xenocrisis and Moero Crystal H and they included something along with the usual sticker and postcard.

Having a hard time figuring what it is and can't upload a pic of it at the moment, but it's plastic and has an image of their mascot and the PA logo on opposite ends, and looks like you're supposed to fold it into something.
Yeah, I also got this strange, folding...thing with my copy of Moero Crystal H and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to do with it.

 
ate2_glamshot_nsw_teen_-_copy_2.png
What the heck does early access to a costume code mean? If you don't buy the LE you can buy the costume, just later?

..I need that costume

 
Wow, no CE of Ryza 2 for PS4 in NA. Japanese companies are starting to lose faith in Sony (for good reason).

I didn't get the CE for the first Ryza game, so I'm definitely making sure I get this one. I loved that game and can't wait for the sequel! Although, by "Japanese Import," do they mean the artbook won't be translated?

 
There's also a preorder costume for everyone. We didn't get the puni shirt in the first game so this is good.

Looks like they've sold through 25% of stock already.

legacy_pre-orderbonus_1080x1080_3.png


^That's what it sounds like. I'm more curious about those "Japanese Import Special Clear Files". Are they physical extras or save files?
It's physical. Clear files are just thin plastic-y folders the size of regular paper.

This is the same as the Japanese Premium Box set.

vjPsJW9.jpg


Wow, no CE of Ryza 2 for PS4 in NA. Japanese companies are starting to lose faith in Sony (for good reason).

I didn't get the CE for the first Ryza game, so I'm definitely making sure I get this one. I loved that game and can't wait for the sequel! Although, by "Japanese Import," do they mean the artbook won't be translated?
That does seem to be the case here. Looks like they're just repackaging the Japanese goods with the english release of the game.

 
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Wow, no CE of Ryza 2 for PS4 in NA. Japanese companies are starting to lose faith in Sony (for good reason).

I didn't get the CE for the first Ryza game, so I'm definitely making sure I get this one. I loved that game and can't wait for the sequel! Although, by "Japanese Import," do they mean the artbook won't be translated?
I’m the opposite; I didn’t get the first one, so I don’t have to get this one either.
 
Outside of the costume hype it looks pretty meager for a $120 CE. But that's coming from someone who hasn't played my copy of :ps4: ryza 1 yet.

I'll probably just buy it on pc if it turns out as good or better than the first. Kinda wish i had gone that route with Ryza 1 really.
 
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No, those are a pre-order bonus for a physical copy for multiple retailers:

https://twitter.com/KoeiTecmoUS/status/1316792218338750464

Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy (they have a reply tweet where they include Best Buy), 'EBC' (EB Games Canada?)

 
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What a terrible release for as popular as they knew this LE would be, they give us less actual quality stuff and raise the price, $119.99? For freakin dollar store 'folders' and 'acrylic' stands, a cloth poster. That edition probably costs them $4 to make. They're paying more for shipping to "import" them than the items are even worth. I wonder if it's a shitty "game on the outside" bundle too.
 
Just like the new "Ys" LE coming out for the same price as the last one of $99.99 except they removed the steelbook game case which was like the only incentive to buy it.
 
Sick of all these terrible out of touch game companies, they get worse every game they put out, raise the price, and then people flock to buy them still.
 
Yeah.. All the costumes except the "early access" "Sonnet of Dawn" are available through other means, correct? Shirts are general pre-order bonuses, the summer costumes and "free first two weeks for pre-orders" bonuses, and the old costumes are free if you have a Ryza 1 save.

This LE is really expensive. I do love the box's art and the Sonnet of Dawn costume a whole lot, but I don't think I "$60 extra" like them. Especially if I can just get the costume separately, later.

 
Yeah, after mulling it over, $120 just seems like way too much for this. It has about the same amount of content the first game's LE had, and that was only $100. Plus, I didn't really feel that one was worth $100. With this game, you're paying $120 for an untranslated art book. Let that sink in: $20 more for them to do less work. I adore that cloth poster, but if I can't read the artbook, it's really not worth it. And, what am I going to do with folders? At least I could hang up the first game's art cards. I think I'll just stick with the standard edition and buy the Sonnet of Dawn costume when it releases for everyone. I need those Puni shirts lol

 
I'm kind of having second thought on Atelier Ryza 2 LE as well, $20 price hike for nearly identical contents as last installment, not even soundtrack offered.

Sent from my SM-N970U1 using Tapatalk
 
Yeah, looking that over, I have hard time justifying $120 for what they are offering and will most likely pass, especially when compared to what Compile Heart/IF! has been putting out for their special editions lately. If it was $100 I'd be more inclined to drop the cash for it.

 
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Yeah.. All the costumes except the "early access" "Sonnet of Dawn" are available through other means, correct? Shirts are general pre-order bonuses, the summer costumes and "free first two weeks for pre-orders" bonuses, and the old costumes are free if you have a Ryza 1 save.

This LE is really expensive. I do love the box's art and the Sonnet of Dawn costume a whole lot, but I don't think I "$60 extra" like them. Especially if I can just get the costume separately, later.
Wow I am amazed they aren't charging for the old costumes.

 
Pretty sure it's just an acrylic character standee. I haven't messed with mine either.
Yeah, I also got this strange, folding...thing with my copy of Moero Crystal H and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to do with it.
So I found out what it is after digging around on their Twitter. It's a mask holder: https://twitter.com/i/status/1316372816300654594

Holy geez, look at those legs all plump and just bursting out.
Thick thighs save lives, my guy.

I’m the opposite; I didn’t get the first one, so I don’t have to get this one either.
I feel the same, there's nothing in the CE I have to have, but we all know there's gonna be a lot of people feeling ton of regret for missing out if this turns out to be as rare as the first game.

 
I'll just stick with the standard Ryza 2. Had the poster/tapestry been the Ebten shop (or really any other jp shop), I would have gotten the CE.

71b4T92r6hL._AC_SL500_.jpg


 
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If you want, you can order the japanese version of the limited edition on amiami for about the same price(12000 yen) and you'll get this B2 wallscroll along with it. You'd have to pay for shipping which is really bad right now with only DHL(expensive) or surface mail(snail mail) as options. Oh and the game would be in japanese. But this wallscroll man, this is what should have been in the limited edition.

3HwHlHp.jpg


 
Daaaaamn, I'm shocked Ryza 2 on Switch sold out so fast. I figured $120 would be a bit too rich for most people.

Was the first Ryza censored?
Not that I know of, which made people have hope that Fairy Tail would be fine. But, after the Fairy Tail nonsense, I worry for Ryza 2.

 
Daaaaamn, I'm shocked Ryza 2 on Switch sold out so fast. I figured $120 would be a bit too rich for most people.

Not that I know of, which made people have hope that Fairy Tail would be fine. But, after the Fairy Tail nonsense, I worry for Ryza 2.
Thanks for the info :)

Also, out of curiosity I checked the PS4 version and it's also sold out! I wonder if using imports meant that they just had a very limited stock of what was left over from the original production run and just had a single stock for both versions...

 
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Thanks for the info :)

Also, out of curiosity I checked the PS4 version and it's also sold out! I wonder if using imports meant that they just had a very limited stock of what was left over from the original production run and just had a single stock for both versions...
Wow, either more FOMO or it's a really small print

Sent from my SM-N970U1 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the info :)

Also, out of curiosity I checked the PS4 version and it's also sold out! I wonder if using imports meant that they just had a very limited stock of what was left over from the original production run and just had a single stock for both versions...
Holy crap, you're right. I checked the PS4 version a half an hour ago and it still had over 50% in stock. Not having too much stock due to it just being Japan's leftovers is a good theory. I also wonder if they're worried the game won't sell well, so they're doing a lower print, but the first game sold really well so I don't know. I think I'll go to Gamestop tomorrow and pre-order my standard copy, just to make sure I get one. Low print + Puni t-shirts = instant pre-order.

 
You can do the shopping cart trick on the European store to see how many copies they have left. There's 99 of Switch, PS4, and Steam left that can be exported. 

It's also sounding like a physical PS4/Switch copy is going to be necessary for the Puni t-shirts. The Japanese marketing for the Steam version doesn't seem to mention them (their own PS4/Switch Puni shirts being a Gust Online Store exclusive) Only the early purchase summer outfits that people have their panties in a wad over them hiding Seri behind another character in the American ESRB marketing.

 
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https://www.siliconera.com/sony-psn-store-will-drop-ps3-psp-vita-games-on-mobile-web-by-october-21-2020/

Reminder to this thread that PS3, PSP, Vita support is disappearing from the web store soon, with mobile following about a week later.

This is especially important for Vita, because the Vita store when accessed from the device itself doesn't show all the content in its alphabetical lists, doesn't always return results in searches, etc.

Your download list will still work, but the Vita download list is a list of *all* playstation store content, not just Vita. So you'll have to scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll until you get to the game you want. Then if you tap download, you have to return to the TOP of the list. This is a nightmare, especially for a game with some DLC. You scroll forever, tap download, get returned to the top, scroll forever gain, tap download for one item, repeat. Think Valkyrie Drive / Senran Kagura and how many different DLC items there are for hair, accessories, underwear, etc. If you wanted to install everything, it's very, very tedious.

I mostly kept a PS3 plugged in through the Vita gen and also downloaded everything to a PS3 whenever I bought it, but I'll be going through and checking it this weekend.. I also don't feel great about the longevity of a PS3 going forward so I'm also going to probably download every Vita game / DLC that isn't already on my device and back it up using QCMA (open source content manager program for Vita, that works with the built in Content Manager application on the Vita). Note that for those sealed games you never got around to, but had some free DLC you grabbed - the DLC installs into the game file I believe (not 100% sure on this, need to check), so unless you crack open the game, install the DLC, then back that up in QCMA you'll be missing the little DLC extras. You can queue them to a PS3 though.

Navigating the download list on the playstationstore website is also a bit rough. I highly recommend the PSDLE browser extension. It can give you one big, long list that you can browse and filter by PS4/PS3/PSP and whether you want PS+ included (another annoying thing about the download list on Vita is that if your PS+ ever expires, then you renew *ALL* those PS+ games get put at the top of the list).

You can also export your whole download list to a text file to keep track of what you own. If the PlaystationStore is removing the ability to browse your download list, PSDLE probably won't work after the update too. I'd recommend just saving a text file in case you ever want to reference. Worst case you can go through the download list on the vita itself and grab something you forgot later, and if you save the list in the default (date) order, it'll be in the same order as your download list. So if you were to scroll quickly, wait for the tiles to load, you could tell if you were before/after whatever you're looking for in this hypothetical if that makes sense..

PSDLE:

https://repod.github.io/psdle/

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/psdle/jdjhhapoddhnimgdemnpbfagndcnmhii?hl=en

You can click on individual items in PSDLE and then click the Vita or PS3 button to queue downloads to your devices, but keep in mind that these devices have limits on how many they can have in their queue. PSDLE won't tell you if you queue too many, but if you go to the official download queue on the playstation store website under your account, you can see if you put too many and if some failed for that reason - you can also press retry here.

Edit: Sony possibly removed the download list/queue links under where you click your profile image on the browser store. Direct link still works, for now:

download list: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/download/list

download queue: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/download/queue

Anyway, plan of attack for me is:

1. Queue PS3/Vita stuff to PS3 since I don't have much to do there.

2. Save off PSDLE export for future reference of all PS3/PSVita/PSP content.

3. Browse all Vita content in PSDLE (either by date or alphabetically)

4. Whenever I encounter a game, also go grab all its DLC as in a few cases (Hatsune Miku Project Diva X for example) the DLC may not be alphabetically in the same place.

5. After queueing the downloads to Vita for the game + DLC (you can force it to grab it by restarting your Vita, same for PS3, if it isn't picking up the download from the web), install the DLC items

6. Back up the game with QCMA to a PC drive for safe keeping.

Then if I ever want to play something that wasn't installed/didn't fit on my memory card in the future, I could check what I should have for it - via the PSDLE export/backloggery/whatever, then just go grab it through content manager on my PC.

It's also a good time to grab any Vita / PS3 games you might've had your eye on. The PS3 store generally shows everything it has, at least, but it is slow. For Vita, as mentioned above, the store is awful and doesn't show everything. So if you really want something, the next few days may be the time to get it.

Edit 2: Final Notes after completion:

I've finished going through it myself, thought I'd share what I learned.

The Vita seems to only be able to handle queueing for install 14 items at a time. The rest will result in 'could not download messages'. These messages will populate first before the ones that can download. So if you queue 50 things and just see failure after failure, that's what's happening. After you install the 14, press 'retry' on the queue for the failed items, and restart the Vita + wait a few minutes for it to pull in from the queue again you'll get 14 more.'

PS3 is pretty similar. The limit is a lot higher, you may need to go back and press 'retry' and power cycle the PS3 several times to get through huge queues.

HIGHLY recommend making sure the "WiFi in Power Save" option is disabled under power save settings.

This setting is very counterintuitive. It SOUNDS like it means, "use WiFi while in sleep/power save mode". That's not what it does. What it actually does is "run WiFi in a mode that saves power". You can get worse performance on your downloads if you have this set.

That's about it.. It was a huge pain in the butt. Popping in cartridges/downloading digital games, downloading DLC 14 at a time.. Installing them, restart, get 14 more, repeat until done, and then copy over to PC. But it's done and it feels good to have a backup.

Valkyrie Drive Bikini Party Edition, Cross Edge, Mugen Souls, Mugen Souls Z, and the PS3 agarest games were the worst. They had SO freaking much free DLC I wanted to grab and download just to have.

At the very end, literally as I was writing this post and wanted to just transfer over a couple of Vita PS+ titles that I figured "may as well" - content manager freaked out on me. It wouldn't connect. I reconnected my cable, and when I did it said I had no content on my PC. Somehow EVERYTHING was wiped, after about two days spent doing this. Thankfully.. I have a 64GB card and -most- things were on there still, so all I have to do is copy again.

I think what happened is that the official content manager application opened at some point and QCMA fought with it.. I have no idea. I only have to download a few games again, but be careful. Before you delete something, or switch memory cards, you may want to make a manual backup of what QCMA stored just in case. But other than this one weird hiccup, it was smooth sailing for me. Just tedious.

 
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I think most of the questions about if Ryza 2 would be is because a Japanese trailer showed up with some changes, then they came out after that and said there wouldn't be any censorship despite it.

https://www.siliconera.com/koei-tecmo-commits-to-no-atelier-ryza-2-censorship-outside-japan/
The ESRB trailer had a (post-production) smear over a scene where a character's skirt flipped up and rearranged characters in an outfit DLC advertisement to cover the character's butt. The same trailer for PEGI/Europe and Taiwan did not. This is the same ESRB that wouldn't let Smash advertise they have characters from Assassin's Creed or No More Heroes, instead saying Smash x Altair and Smash x Travis on the screens they usually have a game logo.

PEGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay5Oty3JvFQ

ESRB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hATQ-EUp0ho

 
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